18 . · . The Preface. Reafon·wi1U11ew this: for ifwe heare that God is.infinite in power.) and doe not withall know that he is our God to vfc hii power for our good., then it make:s vs feare, becaufe . we knGWnot where to hide our fclues from·him; when wee heare hisinfinitc iultice, we quake and tremble: as nothing vcxeth the theefe more, than to heare ofa iuit ludge_, for · · I then he hath no hope ofefcaping, vnleffe he haue a.pardon, il and know that the ludge comes todcliucr him and to doe him good.Alfowhe1rweheare ofGods patience,and good– nes,and mercie; this will be but avexation to vs,vrilcfic we ·know that he is good andmercifull tovs. This addeth to the griefe,to heare that God is go0d,ifwe mull not feele it. For. t.he the wicked hart obiech thus: They preach much y God_ is tncrcifuii,gratious,&c. But what ~s this to me,that he is fo . to others? I am fure he is. not fo to me, lthall fare neuer the .. 1 better for it. This vex-eth the guiltie confcicnce, to heare . that fuch good things are laidvp in Gore for Gods children, and ye~ he mufl tafle ofnone of them. As for a begger, ~hat bath nothing,to heare tell of large poffeffions,~nd great re- . ucnevves that Rlufl bee left to fuch and fuch aone,this is ce.. dious vnto him,and makes his miferie more bitter; a.nd in -thiscafe,till men be perfwaded that God is their G.od,they count it.bootlcffe to·pray,and as for giuing ofthankes, they ·want tnatter and arguments•.So that nothing canmoue or alJure vs to feekeGod,till weknow that he is good tovs;~md will giue ~sfaluation. Therfore, ifeuer we ·would yeeld any cheerefull obedience to God, Jet vs labour to feele the truth of that, which God fpeaketh, That he is our God, our'Sa– uiour, and bath done·more for vs, than anyother can, and · therefore wewill obey him aboue all. Yfo. 1 • . To this e'tld then, wee mull exlmine whether Godhath V'Jrought thofe things inv.s, which hee doth in thofe, vvhofe 'l ~am. x·.I8• Godhe is. As firfl, for God the Pather, he regeneratcs,and · begetsvs anewby the word oftruth: trie then, whether \ve ·haue this note .in vs or not. Doth the wordofGod abid~Jn '" ~lvs· : hath the.immortall feed-made VS· new creatures, an~:.b~! ,. ,. :gun t.o work ill',monaliiie in.vs ?,'then conclude,(ureGb'd is: ,,f. 'ourG.od.. .: ~'. ·.·'' " ~ t .. • Secondly,._ --
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